Happy Easter!!

Thank God for LIFE!!! Through the resurrection we know there is more to come, that death is not the end and we continue on this "earthly" journey called Life!!!

I always looked forward to Easter. It was a time of family getting together for fun, lots of food and laughter. The day always started with searching for the Easter Basket that the Easter Bunny brought and hid. I would find my basket under the sink, in the washer, behind the couch and assorted other places around the house. As I raised my children we followed the same tradition. The baskets were always filled with candy, chocolate Easter Bunnies and lots of Jelly Beans. The yearly Easter Egg hunt was always so much fun. I believe that there are still some missing eggs that were never found!

Now, as I am older and “alive” with the TRUTH of scripture, I find  a whole new meaning to Easter. The  Easter baskets, family and food were wonderful, but now the story of Jesus comes alive!! Starting at Christmas, we begin to remember and reflect on the birth of Jesus. Then from Christmas to Easter we reflect on the life of Jesus, his miracles, teachings and display of compassion and love. As Easter approaches we are reminded of what “Life” is all about......we see through the life of Jesus, that our lives will be hard, that there will be struggles and hardships; that people you love will die, that your friends may betray you, and even when you are kind and compassionate, people may not like you and may be intimidated by you and will even go so far as to crucify you! We learn that this is LIFE as demonstrated in scripture and shown in the "Stations of the Cross" below. 

BUT.......through the study of scripture of the Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus we find that this “earthly” journey is only a small part of our “Life”....Even at death, our lives continue in the heavenly realm! We learn that LIFE is a continuous journey; eternal, never ending! I am so blessed to now know that THIS is why we celebrate EASTER!!  We were shown that even through a bloody, painful crucifixion, God carried Jesus through the pain and the suffering and He rose from the dead and came back to us!!! We are not alone! Jesus has walked the path that we are on. He is here to show us how to live and to keep us safe on our journey. We also continue on, even after death! As I believe in the story of Easter and put my faith and trust in the resurrection of Jesus, my life took on a whole new meaning. As many may say......I was “reborn”......I have a chance to start over and look at life and live my life so differently. Thank You Jesus!!!

YIPPEE!! AMEN and Happy Easter!

Celebrating Easter on the African Mercy has been a wonderful journey of self reflection going from Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and onto a Beautiful Easter Celebration.

Sunrise Service on the Deck

Beautiful and Amazing Praise and Worship!!!

Separate, private areas for foot washings

Our Chaplaincy team recreated the Garden of Gethsemane which allowed a beautiful place for quiet prayer and reflection……

On Good Friday we gathered in the big room that smelled of Palm leaves. We had quiet worship and prayer. At the end, we all wrote our thoughts on a piece of paper (whatever we needed to share with Jesus)and nailed them onto the cross. I prayed and wrote on my note for God to show me how to Love like he Loves me and a few minutes later they played the song from Foreigner " I want to know what love is" and showed a great video along with it! Needless to say, I was amazed and felt like God spoke to me in seconds and tears flooded me :)

Beautiful Worship Service after the service on the deck.....Beautiful music, ballet, children's choir, singing and prayer!

Tears rolled down my face as our crew from 20 different countries said 'Christ Has Risen" in 20 different languages. WOW, Amazing.....The reality that God is everywhere and LOVES US!!

Delicious Spread of Food with yummy Fresh Fruit!!.......Better than Chocolate :)

Of course there were many deserts that took the place of the Chocolate Easter Bunnies! 

After the Sunrise Service we celebrated with Yummy Chocolate Croissants and other yummy pastries. (yeah......so much for the 20 #'s that I lost)

 Another room was set up for the Stations of the Cross. 

The Soul’s Journey – 
a Mystical Approach to the
Stations of the Cross

By Kathrin Burleson

Station I
Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane

He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, 'Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.' Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.' Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. — Luke 22

Divine Protector, send your holy angels to watch over me. Strengthen me in times of darkness, and open my eyes that I may always be aware of your loving presence. 

Station II
Jesus Betrayed and Arrested

Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, 'Rabbi!' and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested him.
— Mark 14

God of Peace, help me to forgive those who hurt or betray me and strengthen me to be worthy of others' trust in me. Let your steadfast love and compassion flow through me that I may be your presence in this world.

Station III
Jesus Denied by Peter

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, 'This man also was with him.' But he denied it, saying, 'Woman, I do not know him.' A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, 'You also are one of them.' But Peter said, 'Man, I am not!' Then about an hour later yet another kept insisting, 'Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.' But Peter said, 'Man, I do not know what you are talking about!' At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, 'Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.' And he went out and wept bitterly.
— Luke 22

Divine Friend, Fountain of Strength, give me courage to speak the truth and to stand for justice. When I fall short, help me to accept your unfailing forgiveness and give me strength to continue, with you as my unfailing support.

Station IV
Jesus Judged by Pontius Pilate

Then he asked, 'Why, what evil has he done?' But they shouted all the more, 'Let him be crucified!' So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.' So he released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
— Luke 23

Gracious God, be with me in all adversity. Give me strength to endure false judgments and accusations. May I always put my faith in your ultimate truth and my hope in your enduring grace.

Station V
Jesus Mocked and Crowned with Thorns

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' and striking him on the face. — John 19

Merciful God, be with me in times of humiliation and despair. Give me hope, and let me know that I am always worthy in your sight. Clothe me in your love.

Station VI
Jesus Takes up His Cross

. . . and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. — John 19

Almighty God, help me to accept and understand the pain and hardships of this life. Give me strength to meet my challenges and bear my burdens. Grant me grace to grow in holiness, and the will to take up my cross and follow you.

Station VII
Jesus Helped by Simon of Cyrene

Then they led him out to crucify him. They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
— Mark 15

Divine Helper, may I be the hand of Christ, reaching out to help those in need. Make me an instrument of your peace and a messenger of your loving kindness.

Station VIII
Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem

A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, "Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed." Then they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us"; and to the hills, "Cover us." For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?' — Mark 15

Divine Comforter, do not let me turn away from pain and sorrow. Help me to be a witness to your love and a comfort to others who suffer.

Station IX
Jesus Nailed to the Cross

Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, 'The King of the Jews.' — Mark 15

Eternal God, give me strength to endure pain and injustice. Comfort me when I am overwhelmed and do not turn your face from my distress.

Station X
Mary and the Beloved Disciple
at the Foot of the Cross

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, 'Woman, here is your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. — John 19

Jesus, by your life and death you created a new family born of your love, compassion, and sacrifice. Help me to see you in each of my sisters and brothers, and may we all know that we are one in you.

Station XI
Jesus Dies on the Cross

From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' . . . Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. — Matthew 27

Jesus, at your death, the veil was torn, and heaven and earth became one. Fill my heart with your love and guide me, that I may help to break down the walls that divide us. May your spirit flow through me as a healing force in this troubled world.

Station XII
Jesus' Body is Taken Down from the Cross

Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. — John 19

Divine Comforter, be with me in times of grief and despair. Comfort those who mourn. Hold me in your loving arms.

Station XIII
Jesus' Body Is Entombed

So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. — Matthew 27

Eternal Light, even in the darkest of times you are present, for you are the light beyond darkness. May your light shine in my heart, and may I be faithful to the knowledge that darkness shall never prevail.

Station XIV
The Resurrection

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. — Matthew 28

Love's ultimate victory over death shines forth in all of creation! Eternal and Glorious God, give me eyes to see the eternal springtime of your love, a voice to sing your praise, and a heart that leaps for joy.

AMEN!!! Thank You JESUS!!!!

Happy Easter to ALL!!!